Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Where Are The New Albums? August 2018 Update

A new month is upon us, and having posted this late last month, let's make up for that with an early installment of our "Where Are The New Albums?" feature series! These posts again look at the current updates and release whereabouts from local metal, hard rock, and punk bands, in order for readers to catch up on what's public on them and when you might see them on sale. While we haven't added any albums this month, 8 of the 12 have updated information, so look for updated entries via titles in italics. So, where are the new albums? Read on below to hopefully find out!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------A Dire Setback's debut album

Background: Though discussion of a
debut album had been ongoing throughout 2017, local alt-punk trio A Dire
Setback only announced that their first CD was in the works in March of
this year. To help fund the recording sessions, A
Dire Setback launched a Patreon page
to allow fans to help financially back them and the album, with
exclusive content and perks promised for backers on there, though public
content on their Facebook page
has also been released. Around that same time, the guys began setting
tempos and recording click tracks for the album, with Pointless
bandmates Bill Priddle & Dustin Goodall handling production and
mastering, at least partially at Dustin's own Unsalted Audio. Full
recording sessions began with drum tracking in May, as noted on
Facebook. The band posted this photo on Facebook last month that could be the possible cover art, while this Rotaryfest teaser features a drum-heavy track that may be included.

Current Release Status: I couldn't
begin to guess, but A Dire Setback are doing all the right things to get
buzz online for the recording sessions, and it'll be interesting to see
how influential the Patreon campaign is towards it's completion,
especially considering the limited success of past crowdfunding
campaigns from local musicians. Keep posted for updates as they roll in!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Bear Hunters - The Dead TestamentRumoured Songs:"The
Void", "The Omen", "Neckbreaker", "I Fear No God", "Servitude",
"Transcend Judgement", "For Glory", "The Wrath Of Angmar", "The Dying
Den", "The Dead Testament", "Deception" (bonus re-recording),
"The Forest of Forests" (bonus track)

Background: In tentative planning
since 2014 under this title, local death metal quintet The Bear
Hunters have been playing songs intended for their second full length CD
for a few years now, but only fully began recording sessions for "The
Dead Testament" on October 2nd, 2015. Following a brief fundraising campaign
and the gradual unveiling of song titles, the band has been working
with producer Dustin Jones at Mission Control Studios, and have shared
sporadic updates on their Instagram page. Like on 2014's "Eternal
Hibernation", rhythm guitarist Josh Stephney has recorded parts
for the album despite living in Southern Ontario, but it's not yet clear
on how bonus tracks will be handled.

Current Release Status: The Bear
Hunters haven't given any firm timetables for when to expect "The Dead
Testament"
in stores, but recording sessions are reportedly complete, with
"finishing
touches" to blame for the delays in finishing the CD, and mixing reportedly ongoing as of April 21st (source here.) The band is
aiming for a more professional sound and release for
their sophomore effort, and while there have been private online updates
in the interim, the band has been very quiet as a whole since last fall, and have not played live yet in 2018. Keep an eye out for updates on "The Dead Testament" when
and if they come in!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Electric Church'sdebut album

Background: Fast rising young
blues/hard rock trio Electric Church evolved from Jimi Hendrix covers in
2016 to primarily original material in 2017, and punctuated that on May
12th of that year when they announced on their Facebook page
that they were "working up some new songs... for the album!!!" It was
confirmed around that time that they were recording material at Mission
Control Studios with producer Dustin Jones, who shared a picture on their Facebook page
confirming Electric Church's presence. However, few direct updates have
followed publically, aside from scattered reminders that they are still
working in studio, and that they "are really excited about all the new
projects we have planned."

Current Release Status: No clue,
but Electric Church are a very talented band who play beyond their
years, and no matter how long this takes, the album should be of solid
quality when it finally comes out! At last word, the band noted on New
Year's Day that they were "looking forward to finishing up in the studio
this year", so stay tuned for updates!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Elements' debut EP

Background: Arguably better known
for their funk, ska, and hard rock covers, local quartet The Elements
have been adding original material to their sets since last year, and
have since publically confirmed earlier teases that they are working on a
debut EP. Frontman Rob Speers has confirmed in personal conversations
in early 2016 that they have been working in studio on the release,
which will have at
least 5 tracks, and I believe it's being self-recorded, but further
public updates are minimal at best. It's also not known if they'll
employ any guest performers, such as saxophonist Josh Norling, a frequent presence in recent
months.

Current Release Status: At this
stage, I have no idea, but Rob sounded like things were going well in
studio. That said, these were largely personal conversations a year ago,
and the band hasn't acknowledged album recording sessions publically in
recent months, so we'll have to see if updates come out on it in 2018!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gates of Winter - Perihelion

Background: Despite
a hiatus from live concerts lasting over 9 years, Gates of
Winter never broke up, and are slowly working on their follow-up
to 2008's "Lux Aeterna". Updates have sporadically been made
since early 2010, via numerous uploads, teaser postings, and general
hype for the recording sessions, though prior release forecasts haven't
been realized, it was retracted from CD to EP length, and most preview
media has since been taken down as the band perfected the CD's final
content. While Sault
native Jon Morrison
was announced as the album's drummer in late 2010, it has since been
confirmed that "Perihelion" will feature programmed drums. After taking a
over a year off from public activity, Gates of Winter resurfaced
in July 2017 with new band artwork and hints that they have "been making
incredible strides, and are very excited to pull back the curtain."

Current Release Status: Personal
commitments and the like have slowed
things down incredibly, but the band has repeatedly acknowledged continued work towards the release in scattered postings throughout the 2010s. The band's Facebook page was admittedly taken down in
mid-2018, despite a personal Facebook video of members jamming from
April, but given their already measured public updates and prior year-long public hiatus from 2016-2017 without dissolving, I am hesitant to make a judgement on their status. If still alive, remember that good art takes time, and
Gates of
Winter won't want to release this until
everything's perfect and to their high standards. Keep an eye out for potential updates!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Id Iota's full length second CD

Background: Not long after their
successful Ontario tour with Mike Mikus in late 2016, Id Iota began
recording sessions for their second album, though public confirmation
that a full length CD was currently in progress didn't occur until
guitarist Dustin Goodall announced it on his studio Unsalted Audio's website
early last year. Scattered postings and hints have followed, but
nothing else has came out beyond performances of newer originals in
concert through this spring. For reference, this photo got shared a few times on Id Iota's Facebook page
last year, but it's unclear if it's intended to be the album's cover
artwork. It is not clear whether new bassist Robert Sartini
and/or his predecessor Dan Linklater will be on the final product, or if
any collaborations with RedD Monkey alum Pete Mozarowski will make the
cut.

Current Release Status: No idea,
especially with the alternative/hard rock quartet keeping fairly mum on
it's progress (not to mention their bassist change), but with the
guys back on the local stage after a lengthy hiatus, hopefully things
are winding closer, so stay tuned for updates!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kraken Mara's self-titled debut EPRumoured Songs: "Chimera", "Ishka", "Grand Machinations", "Straus"

Background:
The current progressive metal project from Late & Loud guitarist
Brendan Christie & Wawa band veteran Jake Valois, Kraken Mara
immediately commenced work on studio material upon their April 2016
launch, though they have yet to assemble a full lineup, let alone play
live. In sporadic updates since on their Facebook page & their website,
the band has indicated ongoing recording sessions towards a self-titled
EP, posting and reworking original demos to their website and (now-deleted) Reverbnation page
over recent months, with Reese Wolf working as sound engineer for the
tracks. As well, the cover artwork for the EP was revealed on Facebook
at the end of March 2017, and the band has since confirmed plans to record
music videos for all of the planned tracks, starting with one for "Straus" that July.

Current Release Status: Your guess
is as good as mine. Kraken Mara did announce on their
website last fall that "the last of our tracks are being mastered as we speak",
while a new playthrough video is also in the works, but the deletion of their Reverbnation page earlier this year doesn't instill confidence in the band's active status, especially with no public updates being made in 2018. Brendan and Jake kept things very
professional and technical so far, and the instrumental material sounded very good and complex, so hopefully Kraken Mara haven't parted ways! Keep tabs above
for updates!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Northwest's second EP

Rumoured Songs: "Hangover Habits", "Drinking Games"

Background: Following the release
of their debut self-titled digital EP in September 2014, and a lengthy
stage hiatus from late 2016 through early 2017, local indie/punk
quintet Northwest resumed major activity that April with teaser
photos of recording sessions at Mission Control Studios with producer
Dustin Jones (as they had done for their debut) being sporadically posted over ever since then to their Facebook page.
Confirmation that this was for a new EP, their first with current
drummer Marc Santos, only came in July 2017 via their write-up in last year's Rotaryfest program, prior to their Second Stage debut. The band posted a new Polaroid-themed profile photo on their Facebook page on July 30th of this year that could be the EP's planned cover art, and if so, the title would be "Songs From 2015-2017", implying when it's songs were composed.

Current Release Status: Shortly after the above photo was shared, Northwest posted a new cover photo that blatantly says that the EP is coming in "Fall 2018". Nothing else is public regarding it's content or release formats, but hopefully that release projection
holds up, and that Northwest's second album sees it's way onto online or
physical storefronts in the coming months!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Pillory's second CD

Background: After previously
breaking up in mid-2014, local metal band Pillory returned as a trio in
the fall of 2015, trading their thrash metal roots for a heavier death
metal sound, complete with a completely overhauled setlist with no
carried-over originals from their 2013 EP "Cringe At The Cross". In
March 2017, Id Iota guitarist Dustin Goodall's recording studio Unsalted Audio
revealed that they were in pre-production for Pillory's second album,
with the band indicating that recording sessions were underway a couple
of months later. As of last July, drum tracks were complete, with
editing to follow before recording other instruments, though no updates
have followed. It's not clear who will provide bass tracks on the final product, between ex-bassist Jordan Leach, his replacement Blair St. John, frontman Robert Sartini (who played bass on "Cringe At The Cross"), or a combination therein.

Current Release Status: I have no
idea, and it doesn't help that Pillory have not posted a public update
since July 2017, though their new lineup returned from that hiatus at last month's Rivers of Nihil concert That said, Pillory are no strangers to releasing an album
amidst lineup uncertainty, and with their increasingly brutal and
technical sound, hopefully they can get this album complete down the
line!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Redundant's debut CD

Rumoured Songs:
"Miles Apart", "That December", "What You'll Do"

Background: Over two and a half
years after their last documented studio sessions in the spring of 2012,
local punk band Redundant revealed on their Facebook page
in November 2014 that they were finally working on finishing their
debut
CD, and will look to hold a CD release party for it upon it's
completion. However, whatever became of those sessions (and planned "new
studio shit" in 2016) appear to have been discarded, as Redundant
announced in January that they will begin recording their debut
album at
Mission Control Studios with producer Dustin Jones, with later public
updates and photo uploads indicating that sessions have
completed. As of July 30th, Redundant's new Reverbnation page was updated with a new band logo that may be included in the cover art, as well as the studio version of their song "That December".

Current Release Status: Redundant stated on their Facebook page on July 12th that they would have copies on hand when they played the
Toronto stop of the final Vans Warped Tour on July 17th. The show went ahead as scheduled, but the band has yet to fully confirm local availability of the EP in any format, which isn't helped by their local shows not being all that frequent as it is. Time will tell when we see it in local and online storefronts, so stay
tuned for more updates when they roll in!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Skeyes of Seven - Stare at the Sky

Background: Already no strangers to
the studio after recording two songs as
singles in the mid-2010s, local modern hard rock quartet
Skeyes of Seven hit the studio to record their debut EP in 2015,
though they only publically confirmed that an EP was in the works in January 2016. Sessions took place at Deluca Sound Productions,
who have shared videos of band members tracking material for the EP,
the title of which being unveiled later that year. In January 2017, all six songs
were posted to their YouTube channel,
including the new instrumental "Crawling Back From Reality", while also
excluding their older originals "Destination Unknown" & "No One
Cares". New guitarist Kyle Sweet is not visibly on the EP, having joined
Skeyes of Seven after sessions concluded.

Current Release Status: Given that
the whole EP is online for free streaming, then conventional wisdom
would say that "Stare at the Sky" would be released imminently, but the
band has yet to confirm a paid release date. Hopefully it doesn't stall
at being a free posting, as Skeyes of
Seven are a talented and experienced band, and having been active in
studio more than on stage since launching in 2012, it'd be great to see
them culminate this process with a release concert, especially with their return to the stage in September. Follow along
to see where things go!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Telephone & Address - "The Early Tapes"

Rumoured Songs: "The Plumbers"

Background: Telephone &
Address frontman Chris Shoust announced on their Facebook page
in 2015 that he was working on releasing "The Early Tapes", a
compilation of songs from the first 4 Telephone & Address albums
(2011's self titled album, and 2012's "Live", "No. 3", and "Broken
Head"). However, he hassince released two separate new
studio albums (2016's "Are You Now
or Have You Ever" and February's "Monster"), with no updates on the
"Early Tapes" album publically stated in over three years. The sole
publically confirmed track "The Plumbers" can be streamed on their Soundcloud page, and albums are likely to turn up on Telephone & Address' Bandcamp page and on Interpunk
down the road, assuming this gets released. Unless the tracks are
reworked, new drummer Jackson Reed will not feature on this album.

Current Release Status: Chris
revealed in March
2015 that this album "will be delayed for some time", and though he
didn't elaborate
on
why specifically, work on both of his last two albums (particularly the
very delayed "Monster") could be partially to blame. That said, with an
expanded lineup now, "The Early Tapes" may have fallen further in
priority, but you never know what could come next from Telephone &
Address!
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I hope you guys liked this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post! Our next monthly feature post will likely be this month's Defunct Local Band Profile, currently scheduled for one week from Friday, and look for this weekend's concert previews on the site tomorrow! Thanks everyone!